Coast Guard March 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters within a 4,000-yard oval radius off the Stan Sayres Memorial Hydroplane Pits downward to the Adams Street Boat Ramp on Lake Washington. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards in the vicinity of the Stan Sayres Memorial Park and Boat Launch and Adams Street Boat Ramp associated with test trials of a hydroplane race boat. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Puget Sound or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) and Queen Creek near Swansboro, Onslow County, NC. The safety zone is necessary to enhance the safety of mariners and participants during a mass-rescue training exercise. Entry of vessels or persons into this safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) North Carolina or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for the Bridgefest Regatta Fireworks in Houghton, MI from 9:30 p.m. through 10:30 p.m. This action is necessary to protect participants and spectators during the Bridgefest Regatta Fireworks. During the enforcement period, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within the safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Duluth or their designated on-scene representative.

The Coast Guard seeks public input regarding the modification of the chart and navigational equipment carriage requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). This advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) outlines the Coast Guard's broad strategy to revise its CFR chart and navigational equipment carriage requirements to implement statutory electronic-chart-use provisions for commercial U.S.-flagged vessels and certain foreign-flagged vessels operating in the waters of the United States. This ANPRM is necessary to obtain additional information from the public before issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking. It will allow us to verify the extent of the requirements for the rule, such as how widely electronic charts currently are used, which types of vessels are using them, the appropriate equipment requirements for different vessel classes, and where the vessels operate, and will thereby allow us to tailor electronic chart requirements to vessel class and location.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Blessing of the FleetSt. Augustine on April 10, 2022, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Seventh Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in St. Augustine, FL. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with companies to evaluate a detect and avoid (DAA) system to determine its potential use in a maritime environment to enable the Coast Guard to safely fly small UAS (SUAS) beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). The Coast Guard will conduct flight testing and evaluations of SUAS DAA technology against CG mission scenarios. From our previous solicitations, the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with AeroVironment (AV) Inc. and solicits public comment on the possible participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA, and the nature of that participation. The Coast Guard also invites other potential non-Federal participants, who have the interest and capability to bring similar contributions to this type of research, to consider submitting proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs.

The Coast Guard will enforce the California Half Ironman Triathlon special local regulations on the waters of Oceanside, California on April 2, 2022. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, sponsor vessels, and general users of the waterway. During the enforcement period, persons and vessels are prohibited from anchoring, blocking, loitering, or impeding within this regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 100-yard radius of oil spill recovery vessels in Neva Strait. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by pollution response efforts. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Southeast Alaska.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of the final policy letter that describes type-approval testing methods, and the acceptance process for such methods, for ballast water management systems (BWMS) that render organisms nonviable in ballast water. At this time, the Coast Guard does not accept any type-approval testing methods for ballast water management systems that render organisms in ballast water nonviable (meaning ``permanently incapable of reproduction''). In consideration of public comments on the draft policy letter, this final policy letter establishes the mechanism for reviewing and integrating viability testing methods into the existing Coast Guard type-approval testing program. The Coast Guard invites submissions of viability testing methods in accordance with the policy letter at any time following publication. The Coast Guard will review any provided information responsive to the policy letter and enclosure. This final policy letter is subject to revision, in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency, contingent on any Coast Guard determination that a viability testing method is acceptable.

The Coast Guard announces the completion of the Port Access Route Study for the Seacoast of New Jersey Including Offshore Approaches to the Delaware Bay, Delaware. The study examined existing shipping routes and waterway uses, to include the potential for offshore energy development, in the study area to evaluate the need for establishing or changing existing vessel routing measures. This notice summarizes the study's recommendation.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a special local regulation (SLR) on certain navigable waters of the Atlantic Ocean, offshore of Miami Beach, FL, in connection with the Luminsea Offshore Powerboat Race. The race will include approximately 55 offshore powerboats, ranging from 30 to 50 feet in length. The SLR is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with the high-speed powerboat race. The special local regulation establishes a race area where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels who are participating in the race, will be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Miami or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend the anchorage regulations for the Delaware Bay and River, and adjacent waters, by establishing two new, offshore deep-water anchorages. The purpose of this proposed rule is to improve navigation safety by accommodating recent and anticipated future growth in vessel size and volume of vessel traffic entering the Delaware Bay and River, and to preserve areas traditionally used or needed for anchoring. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone on certain waters of the Cooper River and Town Creek Reaches. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Charleston, South Carolina, during the Cooper River Bridge Run. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the security zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston (COTP) or a designated representative.

The U.S. Coast Guard announces the availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) Program's acquisition and operation of a planned 30 WCCs. In accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA implementing regulations, the Final PEIS analyzes the potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts, and identifies related mitigation measures, associated with acquisition and operation of a planned 30 WCCs to replace the capabilities of the existing inland tender fleet (Proposed Action).

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish temporary special local regulations on certain waters of the Hudson River in the vicinity of Castleton-on-the-Hudson, New York, in support of the Horsepower on the Hudson event on August 8, 2022. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of participants, participant vessels, spectators, and mariners transiting the area from the dangers associated with vessels operating at high-speeds during the Horsepower on the Hudson event. This proposed rulemaking would allow the Coast Guard to enforce vessel movements within three regulated areas and temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Hudson River between Hudson River Lighted Buoy 202 (LLNR 38905) to Hudson River Light 204 (LLNR 38910). We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce will enforce special local regulation for the Riverfest boat races on the Neches River in Port Neches, TX, from April 29, 2022, through May 1, 2022, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Eighth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in Port Neches, TX. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or designated representative.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0117, Towing Vessels; without change. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the navigable water within a 500-yard radius of several tugs and barges in the Straits of Mackinac. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from the potential hazards created by the work, survey, and inspection conducted within the Straits of Mackinac. Entry of vessels or persons into the zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sault Sainte Marie or their designated representative. Due to the lengthy duration of this safety zone, the Coast Guard is accepting and reviewing public comments until March 31, 2022. While this document is effective beginning April 15, 2022, the Coast Guard reserves the right to modify the safety zone if an issue is raised by the public comments that requires such a modification. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0096, Report of Oil or Hazardous Substance Discharge; and Report of Suspicious Maritime Activity; without change. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Annual Boyne Thunder Poker Run special local regulation on Round Lake and Pine River Channel, Charlevoix, MI on July 9, 2022. This action is necessary and intended to protect the safety of life and property on navigable waters prior to, during, and immediately after this event. During the enforcement period, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within the safety zone are prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sault Sainte Marie or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a security zone for certain waters of the Delaware River. This action is necessary to provide protection of Very Important Persons (VIPs) while attending the Democratic National Caucus (DNC) on the Delaware River in the vicinity of Penns Landing located in Philadelphia, PA. This security zone will be enforced intermittently and only for the protection of VIPs when in the area and will restrict vessel traffic while the zones are being enforced. This security zone would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the security zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Delaware Bay or a designated representative.

This notice requests individuals interested in serving on the Prince William Sound Area Maritime Security Advisory Committee (AMSC) submit their applications for membership to the Captain of the Port Prince William Sound.

The National Boating Safety Advisory Committee (Committee) and its Subcommittees will meet in Annapolis, MD to discuss matters relating to recreational boating safety. The meeting will be open to the public via a virtual platform. There is also limited in-person access.

The Coast Guard will enforce a segment of the Safety Zone, Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan including Des Plaines River, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Chicago River, Calumet-Saganashkee Channel, Chicago, IL, on all waters of the Chicago River (Main Branch) between the N Columbus Drive Bridge and the Franklin-Orleans Street Bridge for the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade Dyeing of the River. This action is intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the event. During the enforcement period listed below, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within the safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated representative.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0071, Recreational Boat Potential Safety Defect Report; without change. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.